Spaghetti fork with improved handle



July 8, 1958 H. LEVINE 2,841,869

sPAcHETTr FORK WITH IMPROVED HANDLE Filed Nov. 2o, 195e Herman Levine JNVENTOR.

64 60 72 f BY Fig. 5

United States Patent O SPAGHETTI FORK WITH IMPROVED HANDLE Herman Levine, Easton, Pa.

Application November 20, 1956, Serial No. 623,477

4 Claims. (Cl. Sil- 322) The present invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved fork, that is, a novel table fork which is so constructed and designed that it greatly aids the user thereof in the act of eating spaghetti.

Persons conversant with the state of the art to which the invention relates are aware that so-called spaghetti "f forks are not new. A number of such forks have been patented and offered for use. As a matter of fact, the present invention is directed, specically speaking, to improvements on prior Patent 2,748,479 of June 5, 1956.

To assist the reader in evaluating the nature of the advance covering the subject matter here, reference to the prior patent may be undertaken. Briefly summarized, this covers a spaghetti fork for one-handed use comprising an elongate handle `substantially cylindrical in cross-section and having an axial bore opening through the outward end and defining a socket, the latter terminating short of the inward end of the handle and the latter end being substantially closed, a linearly straight cylindrical shank appreciably longer than said handle, one-half portion of said shank fitting telescopically and rotatably in said socket with its outward end abutting said substantially closed end, means separably and swivelly joining said outward end to said handle by way of said substantially closed end, the outward half-portion of said shank projecting well beyond the outward end of the handle, being stout in cross-section and thus handily adapted to be grasped and twirled relative to said handle by the thumb and index finger, and the extreme outward end of said shank having a flat head embodying spaced tines, the latter being linearly `straight and all in the same plane.

Experimental use of the patented fork has shown that the guard interposed between the shank and fork head is an optional feature and, for the most part, has been found to be not altogether necessary. It has been discovered, too, that the shank between the forward end of the handle and the guard, even though stout, is not altogether satisfactory for gripping and twirling purposes. In carrying out the instant invention, therefore, a sleeve is employed and occupies the stated space and is of approximately the same cross-section as the handle and provides, it is believed, a more `satisfactory finger-grip for ease of turning.

Another object of the instant invention is to construct the over-all fork along different lines making it possible to employ dilierent kinds of materials and to make up the parts individually and yet to be able to join the same satisfactorily, whereby to provide a construction which meets the manufacturing requirements and economies of manufacturers, better serves the expected `sale features of retailers, and more aptly and satisfactorily serves the needs of those who, no doubt, will find the fork to be just what is needed to properly handle spaghetti which is being eaten.

More explicitly, novelty is predicated on providing a flat, stamped tined head with a short shank and embedding or otherwise securing the latter in one end portion of the finger-grip, a spindle having one end embedded in said ngergrip, a handle, removable or not, freely rotatable on Lil) 2,841,869 Patented July 8, 1958 the spindle, and the end of the spindle opposite to the tined head being peened or otherwise constructed in a manner to provide for retention of the handle and to allow it to swivel freely on said spindle.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of illustrative, but not restrictive, drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Fig. 1 is a view in section and elevation of the improved spaghetti fork;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the same in eleva: tion and how it is constructed and used;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. l;

` Fig. 4 is a view in section and elevation of a modilication wherein the swivelled handle is removable; and,

Fig. 5 is a further modification wherein the spindle and handle are detachable from the linger-grip.

Briefly and broadly the improved fork is characterized by the fork head, handle and spindle, and cylindrical linger-grip affording a junctional connection between the fork head and spindle and handle.

In Figs. l to 3, the unit or component identified as the fork head is here denoted generally by the numeral 6, is of suitable material and is at and provided with coplanar spaced tines which are linearly straight and properly designed and spaced. The tines are denoted by the numerals 8. The shank portion of the head is denoted at 10 and is also straight and in a plane with the plane of said tines and is then fashioned into a tapering abutment 12 having an axial lat tongue 14 which passes through an elongated slot in a washer 16 which abuts the abutment or shoulder 12. The tongue is provided with suitable lugs as at 18 and these lugs and the tongue are keyed or embedded in one end of the plastic linger-grip 20. A cooperating end portion 22 0f the spindle 24 is knurled and also provided with lugs or ears 26 and said end portion is axially embedded in the finger-grip, in the manner shown clearly in Fig. 1. The linger-grip 20 is cylindrical or circular in cross-section and one end abuts the washer 16 and the other end 28 cooperates with an adjacent end portion 3i? of a cylindrical sleeve-like plastic or equivalent handle This handle has a bore extending axially therethrough and the bore is open at its opposite ends. The outer end portion of the spindle is peened or otherwise constructed as at 34 to provide a head which serves to assemble the handle on the spindle and allows the handle to rotate freely. More specifically, the handle 32 is held in the hand of the user and functions as a bearing and the spindle 24 rotates therein, the spindle carrying the rest of the structure with it as it is rotated. One can readily appreciate how the device functions by looking at Fig. 2 which. shows the one-handed operation with the handle 32 held in the fingers and with the thumb and index finger holding the finger-grip 20 so that the latter may be turned or simply rotated partially from side to side depending on how one desires to angle and otherwise handle the tined head. With this construction, compared to the prior Patent 2,748,479, it will be seen that no space exists between the handle and the tined head. This space is here filled by the plastic or equivalent finger-grip 20. The latter is intentionally stout to provide a reliable and satisfactory grip.

The invention has to do with a fork which is unique in that it provides a new and improved and easy method of handling spaghetti while eating. The tnes may be rotated either right to left or left to right. The fork may be used with either hand, left or right. It requires but one hand to operate it and hence is a boon to handicapped persons. This fork has clean. smooth lines with no bends, cracks,

crevices, slots, angles or holes in which food or dirt may become lodged, making it unsanitary and impractical to clean. This fork is smooth in structure and easy to keep clean and sanitary and cannot become clogged. By making the parts separately and then combining as shown in the drawings they may be each of different classes or kinds of materials, making it possible to turn out the fork either as a so-called cheap or inexpensive item7 or as an expensive one depending on the needs and requirements of users and manufacturers, respectively.

Referring now to the modified form of the invention depicted in Fig. 4 it will be evident that the structural characteristics are much the same as already described in reference to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive. That is to say, the head 6A (tines not shown) is of the construction denoted at 6 in Figs. l and 2. It includes a correspondingly structed shank 34 having a reduced axial tongue or an appropriate equivalent extension 36 which is provided with lugs or nodules 33 embedded in the adjacent end portion of the stout cylindrical finger-grip 4t?. The finger-grip here is preferably constructed of a suitable grade of commercial plastics and at the shouldered end 42 it is provided with an outstanding axially extending member 44 which constitutes a spindle. This spindle is mounted in the socket-like portion 46 of the axial bore of the handle 48. The opposite or right-hand end of the handle is provided with a bore 55j dening a shoulder at 52 against which the spindle abuts. This end portion of the spindle is provided with a screw-threaded socket to accommodate the screwthreaded portion 54 of the shank of a headed screw S6 which abuts the end portion 58 of the handle and provides not only the `swivel connection but makes the handle removable. Therefore, it will be evident that in this form the nger-grip 40 and spindle 44 are moulded or fabricated from one piece of material and the handle 48 fits onto the spindle portion and abuts the shoulder 42 of the fingergrip- In the form of the invention seen in Fig. 5, the plastic or equivalent linger-grip is denoted by the numeral 60 and the reduced tongue or extension 62 on the shank 64 of the head 66 is embedded and fixed in place in the manner shown. In the opposite axial end portion of the fingergrip there is a metal insert or socket member 68 whichis internally screw-threaded as shown. This member serves to accommodate the screw-threaded end portion 70 of an elongated spindle bolt or screw 72 which extends through the open ended bore 74 in the handle 76 in the manner shown. This construction also features aremovable handle which is simply connected through the iinger-grip and fork assembly by way of a long screw. lt is within the purview of the invention to thread the linger-grip to receive the screw-threaded end portion 7) in lieu of the embedded socket member 68, as is obvious.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling Within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A spaghetti handling and eating fork for one-handed use comprising an elongated handle having an axial bore, a fork having a spindle litting rotatably in said bore, said spindle having its outer end fastened rotatably to the outer end of said handle, the distal end portion of said fork embodying a shank terminating in a fiat head provided with spaced tines all in the same plane, the median portion of said fork comprising an elongated part constituting a finger-grip, said finger-grip rigidly fastened to both the spindle and the shank whereby to couple the spindle and shank together and to provide a means for rotating the shank and head relative to the handle.

2. The structure of claim 1 and wherein said median portion is cylindrical in cross section and of a cross section similar to the cross section of the handle.

3. The structure dened in claim 2 and wherein the finger-grip is of plastic material andthe connection to said spindle is by a molded joint.

4, The Structure defined in claim 1 and wherein said finger-grip is of plastic material and is provided with a screw threaded socket, and the adjacent end of said spindle is screw threaded and screwed into said socket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,869,299 Bracht July 26, 1932 2,505,122 Krieger Apr. 25, 1950 2,748,479 Levine June 5, 1956 

